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Frequently Asked Questions Retirement

Retire in One Year

This is a provision that allows you to retire with benefits beginning
immediately if you have ten years of service and have reached the Minimum
Retirement Age (at least 55). However, the annuity is reduced for each month you
are under age 62. The reduction equals five percent per year (or 5/12 of one
percent per month). To avoid the reduction, you can postpone payment. You can
later apply for the benefit by writing to us or filing an "Application for
Deferred or Postponed Retirement," Form RI 92-19. You should submit the form two
months before you want the benefit to begin.

Get information about other benefits to which you may also be eligible, such
as Thrift Savings Plan payment options and any other entitlements based on
employment, for example: Foreign Service, Social Security, pensions from private
industry, and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). You should have a fairly
comprehensive picture of all sources of your retirement income and when each is
payable.

Tell your supervisor about your proposed retirement date. You should give
sufficient notice to allow for planning for someone to take your place.

Attend a pre-retirement counseling seminar.

Make an appointment with your personnel officer to review your Official
Personnel Folder (OPF) or its equivalent to make sure all your records are
complete and accurate, all service is verified, and your insurance coverage is
documented.

Check with your local personnel service center to verify that you have enough
service and meet the age requirements for retirement
eligibility. They can provide personalized assistance because they have your
employment records.
Your local personnel service center will also talk with you about the date
your annuity payments can start based on the date you pick.

At your request, your employer should provide you with any of the following
estimates that apply to your circumstances. However, the U.S. Office of
Personnel Management determines the actual amount of the benefit that is payable
based on the laws and regulations and on the certified record of your
employment.

If you receive military retired pay, an estimate of your benefit with and
without credit for military service.

If you are considering deposit for military service after 1956, an estimate
of your benefit with and without credit for the military service you performed
after December 31, 1956.

If you are considering a deposit, under the Civil Service Retirement System,
for federal employment before October 1, 1982, estimates of the amount of the
deposit and the amount of your benefit with and without the reduction for the
deposit.

If you are considering repaying, under the Civil Service Retirement System
(CSRS), a refund of retirement contributions for employment ending before
October 1990, an estimate of the amount of the redeposit and your benefit with
and without the actuarial reduction taken if the redeposit is not paid.
Redeposit service
ending before October 1, 1990 and covered by CSRS.

If you are considering repaying, under the Civil Service Retirement System
(CSRS), a refund of retirement contributions for employment ending after October
1990, an estimate of the amount of the redeposit and your benefit with and
without credit for the employment period covered by the refund.
Redeposit service
ending on/after October 1, 1990 and covered by CSRS.

If you are considering providing less than the maximum annuity payable after
your death to a husband, wife, or ex-spouse, estimates of the amount of the
survivor's annuity and the amount of your annuity with and without the reduction
for full survivor's benefit.
View information on family
benefits.

If you are considering providing a survivor annuity to someone who has a
financial interest in your continued life, an estimate of your benefit with and
without the reduction for this election.
View information on family
benefits.

If you have made voluntary contributions and can elect to purchase additional
annuity with those contributions, benefit estimates with and without credit for
the voluntary contributions.
View information about voluntary
contributions.

If you can elect to receive the alternative form of annuity, an estimate of
your benefit with and without the lump sum payment of retirement contributions.
View information about the alternative form of annuity.

For employees, under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), who can
elect to receive an annuity supplement, an estimate of the monthly amount
payable to age 62.

Your benefit will be computed in the same manner as if it were not subject to
offset. However, it will be reduced when you become eligible for Social Security
benefits. The offset applies when the basic requirements for Social Security are
met, generally at age 62, even if you do not apply for those benefits. If you
are not eligible for Social Security benefits at age 62, there is no offset
unless you become eligible later.

The benefit is not reduced if it begins after your 60th birthday and you
have at least 20 years of service or you reach the Minimum Retirement Age and
have 30 years of service. Delay of the benefit can be used to avoid all or part
of the reduction for retirement before age 62 that would otherwise have been
applied.

Your life insurance enrollment will stop until the annuity begins. Once the
annuity begins, the life insurance coverage you had when you stopped working
will resume if you are eligible.

Your health benefits can be temporarily continued under the Temporary Continuation of Coverage for
18 months. You must pay the full cost of coverage, including both the employee
and government shares, plus a two percent administrative charge. Your employer
will collect the premiums and maintain this coverage.

When your payments begin, if you are otherwise eligible to continue coverage, you can again enroll in the Federal
Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program and we will pay the government share of
the premiums.

If you do not file an application before your death, the rights of your
surviving family members would be protected because you would be considered a
retiree.

You should apply to make a payment by completing a Standard Form 2803 if you
are covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). You should use
Standard Form 3108 if you are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System
(FERS).
If you are within six months of retirement, you should submit your request to
make the deposit or redeposit at the same time you
submit your application for retirement. You can use a form or letter to do this.
We will notify you of any amounts due so you can decide whether or not to make
the payment. We cannot, however, authorize your regular annuity payments until
we have your decision about the payment.

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